Chapter 828
Joe understood. “This is Edwin’s pendant?”
“Yeah.”
Skylar explained Charlene’s actions, detailing the events for Joe’s understanding. He remained silent for several minutes after her explanation, then chuckled. “This explains why he suddenly turned into such a monster two years ago. He’d seemed half-decent before that. The negative item only exacerbated his true nature.” Joe had never hidden his dislike of Edwin from Skylar.
“He’ll probably claim it from the police soon. I think you need to handle this. This negative item affects his blood relatives as well as himself. In a few years, his health will be in shambles; he’ll spend most of his time hospitalized,” Skylar warned.
Joe’s expression turned grim. “How does it affect me?”
Skylar’s expression was complicated. “You’ll have a rocky relationship. If you have children, your family would fall apart.” Every man who’d possessed the emerald pendant suffered a similar fate; there were no exceptions. Even on their deathbeds, they believed themselves unlucky, succumbing too easily to their desires.
Joe glanced at her. His family falling apart? He hadn’t anticipated that conclusion. After a moment of silence, he asked, “Do you have to be the one dealing with the emerald pendant?”
“Yeah, it needs to be me. Also, I think there are other negative items connected to the Martins, besides the jade pendant,” Skylar surmised. Recent events suggested the man behind the scenes aimed to destroy Jipsburg’s prominent families. Unable to compete legitimately, he resorted to such sinister plots.
Joe fell silent, then said, “I’ll make the arrangements. Sorry for troubling you with this.”
Skylar looked down. “No worries. This might affect Grandma, after all.” She couldn’t stand idly by if Gloria were at risk.
Joe smirked coldly. Gloria was more important to Skylar than he was. This realization left him uneasy. He stood, declaring, “I’ll be going out.”
Vera visited Buck, then Penelope; their hospital rooms were adjacent. Vera, having suffered the least severe injuries, was mobile. For days, she’d been consumed by anxiety. She’d just awakened from a restless nap, tormented by a nightmare about the Ruells’ crisis.
Returning to her room, she saw Jenny in a wheelchair. Their eyes met. “What happened to you?” Vera asked, scanning Jenny. Hadn’t she been working at Joe’s company? Joe had raised Jenny; she seemed a fragile flower needing nurturing. Many knew of Jenny’s romantic feelings for Joe—while calling him brother, she desired a relationship. Vera disliked her.
Jenny hadn’t expected to encounter Vera. She’d seen the news report of the Ruells’ accident and fire. Despite both being at Apollo Hospital, its inpatient department was vast; their meeting was improbable. Jenny simply needed some air, and didn’t want to remain in her room.